With back-to-back defeats for the Black Cats, fans are desperate for a striker. But I would argue that Kristjaan Speakman addressing a glaring issue in midfield is just as important.
It’s not been the easiest of starts to the season for Sunderland; losing to newly-promoted Ipswich and then Championship regulars Preston, as well as crashing out of the Carabao Cup to Crewe, many fans have hit the panic button already. The big problem is the obvious lack of a proven goalscorer, with early signs suggesting Hemir, who only just turned 20, isn’t yet the player to score goals week in week out. However, one thing I feel needs addressing is the lack of a Corry Evans style player in our midfield.
A lot of our fans arguably underestimated how key our captain was to our setup last year. The way he acted as a screen in front of the defence has not been replicated since his injury in January by anyone. It is an issue that I still don’t understand how it hasn’t been resolved. Our current midfield consists of Pierre Ekwah, Jobe Bellingham and Dan Neil, who have all had their moments individually, but none of them have filled the Evans-shaped void in the team and if I am honest, I feel it has been costly.
All three like to get forward and be involved in attacking phases of possession, which has made us vulnerable to the counter. George Hirst’s goal on the opening day and then Mads Frøkjaer-Jensen’s goal on Saturday showed that, with both goals coming from the midfield getting caught far too high up the pitch after losing possession. It doesn’t seem we have that player capable of doing that role at the club. Our other midfield options being Chris Rigg, who I feel works better higher up the pitch, and Jay Matete, who is injured. You could argue O’Nien could operate in that role but it looks as if Mowbray sees him as a centre half.
That means Sunderland need to be in the market for one. Ideally, we need somebody with experience in this role but it does seem unlikely, considering the model we are currently operating under. However, you have to feel that in certain positions, you have to stray away slightly from the insistence of youth, and a bit more experience is needed in that midfield. I don’t know if after this poor start, they can afford to just wait for Evans to return - whenever that may be.
It is pretty clear that there are still a lot of gaps that need filling in this team, and its now up to the recruitment team to resolve it.
